News Corporation: Dismal Results But Rupert Less Bearish

News Corporation reported dismal 3Q09 earnings as expected. Revenues were light of expectations but EPS were in line after adjusting for several large, one-time items. In the reported numbers, the story is the collapse in profitability at Television (operating income -99%), newspapers (-97%), Sky Italia (-35%) and book publishing (from profit to loss). There is […]

Trimming the Branches on the Apple Tree

While I still think Apple (AAPL) has upside to $150 plus as the year unfolds, I trimmed positions across most Northlake client accounts this morning. Apple shares have performed very well this year as the company is seeing much better demand than many feared given the state of consumer spending around the world. As a […]

Cablevision Earnings Preview: Stakes Raised By Earlier Cable Reports

First Time Warner Cable (TWC) and then Comcast (CMCSA) set the table for Cable vision (CVC) with stronger than expected earnings reports. The first two reports revealed financial and subscriber metrics that were better than expected pretty much across the board. In earlier quarters as cable metrics decelerated, CVC was generally able to buck the […]

News Corporation Earnings Preview: Is This The Bottom?

News Corporation will report a dismal March quarter. EPS and EBITDA will declines 50% or more. The good news is this should be the worst quarter this cycle. That is certainly what investors seem to be saying as NWSA shares have rallied 84% off their March lows including 20% since media earnings season kicked off […]

Another Positive Surprise at Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (DISCA/DISCK) reported its third consecutive positive earnings surprise. The shares are responding, up 8% in early trading on Monday. DISCA shares are now at their highest price since early September 2008 and up 21% since the day before the market crash began. In 1Q09, DISCA produced an across the board positive surprise with […]

Discovery Communications in Value Enhancing JV Ahead of 1Q Earnings Report

Ahead of its 1Q09 earnings report on Monday, Discovery Communications announced a joint venture and re-branding of its Discovery Kids Network. A 50/50 joint venture with Hasbro will lead a re-naming and re-programming of the U.S. network. Kids will continue to operate as is in international markets According to SNL Kagan, Kids currently reaches 63.4 […]

Comcast Beats Across the Board to My Surprise

Comcast reported better than expected 1Q09 results pretty much across the board. I completely missed this as I had expected this to be the final quarter of sluggish growth with estimates coming down again. I underestimated Comcast’s excellent operating management and favorable seasonal trends. It was clear after Time Warner Cable (TWC) reported yesterday that […]

Viacom Reports Inline But Stock Already Reflects Bottoming Trends

Viacom reported 1Q09 results largely in line with analyst estimates. EPS of 29 cents beat the 26 cent consensus but revenues of $2.91 billion fell a little short of the $2.97 billion estimate. Advertising trends were weak, as expected, but this still stands out as a negative particularly as Viacom’s nets are far underperforming the […]

Time Warner: Good Results and AOL Exit Drive Upside

Time Warner (TWX) reported better than expected 1Q09 results. Headline financial numbers of 35 cents, $6.95 billion in revenue, and $1.56 billion in EBITDA each exceeded estimates. On its own, the financial performance would have been enough to push the stock higher. However, news that an AOL spin has moved to the front burner added […]

Comcast Earnings Preview: Will estimates come down again?

Comcast reports 1Q09 results before the open on Thursday. Analysts expectations are for a mid single digit increase in revenue and EBITDA with strong free cash flow performance. Headline numbers should be 23 cents in EPS on revenues of $8.76 billion. Investors will be looking for two takeaways from the numbers and call. First, subscriber […]